Oly XA3 film speed setting

[fidget]

My recent XA2 has been such fun to use and gives such nice, sharp and sometimes quirky (vignetted) images that I suffered minor GAS, wondering what benefits the XA3 has.
So although my XA2 is my present "always-in-the-pocket" cam, I thought that I would try an XA3 as the idea of metering to 1600 and a +1.5 stop compensation feature was tempting.

A reasonably priced purchase from the bay arrived today and has presented a small puzzle and a tiny disappointment. The ISO setting has click stops in 1 stop stages where the XA2 has 1/3 stop settings. I would miss this, but does anyone know if the little adjuster can be positioned between click positions to give 1/2 stop adjustment? I'm thinking that the metering is similar to the XA2 and that it's only the lack of the mechanical click stops which is the problem. I will try this on a test film but your experience is valued.

Also, can the DX reading feature be overridden and how? I can't see how to stop the DX reading, other than by putting tape over the cassette (which could be a good enough work-round).

EDIT: I guess that I could cover the DX contacts in the camera body, that would permanently default to manual ISO setting. I wonder if one pin in particular can be covered?
Dave...

 

[fidget]

Well, before putting a test film in it, I ran lots of shots off, aiming at a constantly lit scene, whilst slowly moving the speed selector through one stop. When the exposure is at around 1/2s, the aperture is fully open and the change is made by the length of shutter opening. I could tell that there was no interruption in the metering which seemed to change gradually as I moved the selector.
I believe that the 1/2 stop adjustment will be just fine, just up to my guesswork to position the lever halfway between the click stops.

So, the partial metering adjustment is not a problem, the DX coding is easy to disable.........it's going to good, just the test shots to process. Minor disappointment evaporated.

 

[fidget]

I developed the FP4 test film from the XA3 before replacing the gummy foam seals. It had no light leaks so the old seals can stay for the time being.
It's just as good as my XA2, very pleasing.
I noticed that the scans from the film don't show any vignetting. The XA2 does this, as I have more recently discovered, when smaller apertures are used (not that you have any control). This could also be a plus point, as it may offer a different look.
I wonder if it is a different lens?

Seems that my concerns about the possibility of adjusting the film speed in 1/2 stops may not be too critical. As it will only have B&W film in it, the lack of 1/2 or 1/3 stop adjustment may not be significant.

 

[oscroft]

I noticed that the scans from the film don't show any vignetting. The XA2 does this, as I have more recently discovered, when smaller apertures are used (not that you have any control). This could also be a plus point, as it may offer a different look.
I wonder if it is a different lens?

Interesting - I always thought the XA2 and XA3 had the same lens. I haven't used my XA2 a great deal (I have XA and XA4 and prefer those) but I haven't noticed any vignetting with it.

 

[manfromh]

My XA3 vignettes I think. As far as I know, the XA2 and XA3 have the same lens.

 

[oscroft]

I've just checked some scans of some old shots I took with the XA2, and there's definitely a fair bit of vignetting in some shots with a lot of blue sky.

There's a useful FAQ for Olympus XA cameras, here. You can see from that that the specs of the XA2 and XA3 lenses are the same - 35mm f/3.5 Zuiko, 4 elements in 4 groups - but the focusing ranges are set differently.

Other sites that describe the XA range always seem to say that the XA3 is the same as the XA2, but with some additions. Eg, Camerapedia says "The XA3, from 1985, was basically an XA2 with DX film coding and manual ASA settings up to 1600 ASA. Also had the "backlight compensation" feature from the original XA, a feature lacking in the XA2."

So the evidence does appear to suggest that the same lens was used in both cameras.

 

[fidget]

Yes, thanks for that. They do both appear to be 4 element lenses.
Maybe it will become clear to me after a few more films.

I notice from my scans of negs from the XA2, that vignetting is seen on images taken with small apertures, when the scene is very bright. Images shot in dull conditions (presumably with large apertures) have no sign of vignetting. I expected this to be the opposite 😕

Below is a snap in very bright conditions, possibly a little beyond the range of the camera/400film combo. It's a bit too much vignette for me.

 

[oscroft]

I notice from my scans of negs from the XA2, that vignetting is seen on images taken with small apertures, when the scene is very bright. Images shot in dull conditions (presumably with large apertures) have no sign of vignetting. I expected this to be the opposite

Hmm, yes, that's interesting - the shots I checked were taken in Thailand in very bright sun, so they should be taken with small apertures too, which is indeed weird.

Below is a snap in very bright conditions, possibly a little beyond the range of the camera/400film combo. It's a bit too much vignette for me.

Yes, that's worse than the shots I have with vignetting.

I need to have a look at some more of mine, but I'm away from home for a few days right now - I'll be back home in a few days and I'll check some more and post a few.